A low-tech suggestion for back-to-school needs

Published 2:21 pm, Sunday, August 17, 2014

Every August, I get a spate of questions from parents wanting to know what technology their kids need as they get ready for school in the fall. For many years, it was an easy call, because laptop computers were the one indispensable device every student needed for taking notes in class, watching video seminars, writing papers and e-mailing home for more money.

Now, however, things aren't so simple. Tablets with optional or detachable keyboards offer a lighter, less cumbersome alternative to traditional laptops, and even really big phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note can suffice for many school activities. Moreover, all mobile devices, including those running Apple's iOS operating system or Android, can be used to create, edit and save documents in Microsoft formats, which, like it or not, are still the standard for colleges.

There's also this: Many teenagers heading off to college already have laptops or tablets (or both). That helps explain why I have received more than 80 e-mails over the past month pitching back-to-school stuff of all kinds, including flash drives, cameras, mobile apps, alarm clocks, even 3-D printers.

With all that stuff in the mix, it's hard to say what an individual student needs the most. But there is one (albeit low-tech) item I can wholeheartedly recommend - a new backpack that can hold electronics devices and accessories. At Amazon.com or BandH.com, you can find a terrific selection of backpacks for students or (tech-laden office workers) priced at less than $75. Stores like Best Buy and Staples carry them as well, albeit a limited selection.

Q:In a recent column you mentioned that you have your own router/modem instead of using Comcast's. I recently signed up with Comcast and selected their modem/router with the idea that I would get my own when I got around to it. Can you recommend some good choices for hardware that I can purchase and save the monthly equipment fee?

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A: Sure. But first, a caveat: If you have home telephone service from Comcast, you're stuck with Comcast's gateway modem/router, which is the only one on the market (that I know of) which has telephone jacks. Your best option in that case is to switch to Vonage for your phone service (about the same price), freeing you to get your own modem and router.

I recommend buying a modem and a separate router, as opposed to one device that has both. That way, you can upgrade either component any time the technology improves. For the modem, a good, inexpensive choice is the Arris/Motorola SB6121 (around $75), which works fine for either Comcast's Performance or Blast Internet services - even with their recently doubled speeds. If you want a hedge against even faster speeds in the future, consider the SB6141 for about $20 more.

As for the router, a model using the newest Wireless AC standard will provide the fastest throughput and range. You can find a model from Netgear or Belkin for under $100 that has dual bands and should be able to handle whatever speed Comcast throws at it in the next few years.

Q:Do any television networks broadcast at 1080p? Also, how can I tell if a movie I'm watching on Netflix is 1080p? I know they can stream at that rate.

A: Answer to first question: No, not even, forget it, you wish. TV networks still use either 720p or 1080i for high definition. The 720p format is ever-so-slightly better than 1080i, but both are inferior to "full HD" 1080p.

Netflix, on the other hand, transmits most (if not all at this point) of its modern movies and TV shows at 1080p. Whether or not you get that level of resolution on your 1080p-capable TV depends on the speed of your Internet connection.

You can see exactly what you're getting by viewing a video on Netflix titled "Example Short 23.976." It's a string of random video clips with a readout at the top left that shows the bit rate (speed) of the stream as well as the resolution in real time. Both numbers may be low when you start the video, but soon they will increase until they reach their maximums.

If your Internet connection is fast enough, you'll end up with a bit rate of 5,800 kilobits per second (5.8 Mbps) and 1920 x 1080 resolution. Hooray!

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